by Charles Cumpston

MILAN, ITALY-With true Italian style, GIMAV, the Italian association of glass processing machinery manufacturers, celebrated its 25th anniversary with a gala dinner last night.

Greeting the 370 guests who had the highly sought invitation was the most visible image of the group through the years, its first president Dr. Dino Fenzi.

Milling around to music designed to relax everyone after a full day at the show, guests had a choice of so much food that everyone kept joking that if they couldn't see the tables set for dinner they would assume that this was the offerings of the evening. But it was only the beginning.

A true Italian meal, cooked by a celebrated three star Italian chef, celebrated 25 years for this internationally influential group.

While the guests dined, a multimedia presentation celebrated glass. The theme of the evening was the four elements of glass: earth, air, fire and water. A theatrical presentation of each preceded the four courses of the meal. After all, this was Milan, so why not have a fashion show-style dinner?

Angelo Lovati, current GIMAV chairman, said that while the group was 25, "it has a lot of young energy."

Former chairperson Fenzi, in addressing attendees, said, "This has been a bit emotional." He spoke about the association and its accomplishments over its 25-year history.

Then the last of the three chairpersons which GIMAV has had, Anniballe Besana, spoke. Now 84, he chronicled how cutting a piece of glass has taken so much time and two men to do what a machine can do today in a few seconds. With sighs and applause, the evening's entertainment went on, perhaps later than it should have with the third day of the show facing attendees in the morning.

Charles Cumpston is a contributing editor to USGNN.